Why are poorly fitting Italian cases so expensive.

[wlaidlaw]

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Just ask yourself: when was the last time after buying a high quality item, you subsequently thought "I wish I had bought the cheaper one". I bet however, that the reverse is true and you wish you had bought the more expensive item.

 

I bought last year, a Rolleiflex leather strap from China. It was the only one I could find with the proper slot in quick release clips on the strap. The leather is horrible and after just one year, is beginning to deteriorate. Sadly, Luigi does not do a Rolleiflex strap. I am going to either have to have the leather replaced onto the Chinese Rollei clips or do more research to find a better supplier.

 

Little beats Italian leather. I buy all my belts from a little shop in Cortona, when I go and stay with my friends near Perugia. I am still using ones I bought 20 years ago.

 

Wilson

[wlaidlaw]

Actually I have checked again and Luigi does now do a Rolleiflex strap with clips. I can see it going on my Xmas present list.

 

Wilson

[billib]

Another excellent point. I give this case

maybe two years. Maybe. I didn't buy it

expecting it would be the same as a

real Leica case. I'm just thrilled it isn't

plastic.

[StephenPatterson]

I'm not so sure it isn't plastic...

 

Real leather cases, like A&A, Mr. Zhou, Ciesta and Wotancraft have a suede interior, or are lined with a microfiber cloth like the Luigi cases. The photos on eb@y from this supplier in Chongqing show a slick inside finish, suggesting either a VERY thin two piece leather bond that is stitched together (not suggested by the photos of the edging) or it's a synthetic material.

[billib]

I don't know SFD. It looks like leather then

plastic. Maybe it is pleather. Could be very

cheap leather scraps infused with plastic

to make them more durable. I better not tell

it or it may get depressed. It thinks its connoly

leather and everyone is whispering behind its

back and laughing. Oh no!

[Adam Marelli]

Hey SeaFury,

 

You are absolutely correct about Capa and Rodger. Both were famous for their stylistic touches. Cartier Bresson also used a leather case -on and off- throughout his career. When I looked up Eddie Adams, the only pics I could find of him in Vietnam were without cases, only straps.

 

But its interesting to consider Capa and Rodgers approach to being a stylish photographer. They were into fashion. Capa bought a Burberry Raincoat for the invasion of Normandy. He also fashioned his neck tie out of parachute material after his air drop with the RAF in Wesel Germany during WWII. He saw Rodgers parachute silk cravate while he was back in London and loved it. The picture you are taking about has both of them wearing, what would be considered today to be absurd outfits. But it all works. And even HCB would work in a suit most of the time. If it was too hot he would at least wear a collar. They were "gentlemen photographers." I doubt you would have ever caught them out of the house in a t shirt and a pair of shorts.

 

There is another funny parallel in the friendship of Hemingway and Capa. They seemed to have an ongoing dialogue about reliable products. It probably stems from the war years, when good products were in hard to come by. So if you were luck enough to get something good, you swore by it.

 

Before companies had poster boys, Hemingway was constantly plugging good products in his books as if he was a paid spokes person. He talks about Rolex Oyster Perpetuals, Purdey Shotguns, and Burberry rain gear. I get the sense that he and Capa were happy to discuss their treasured belongings. Luigi's cases seem to come from that lineage.

 

Best-Adam

 

ADAM MARELLI PHOTO

[bill]

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... They were "gentlemen photographers." I doubt you would have ever caught them out of the house in a t shirt and a pair of shorts.

...

 

Quite right too...

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[aesop]

...because "discerning" camera owners will buy them. Yup, absolutely nothing to do with photography per se. Or photographic style. More a vanity thing.

[scsambrook]

Just ask yourself: when was the last time after buying a high quality item, you subsequently thought "I wish I had bought the cheaper one".

Wilson

 

When I bought Leica's own nappa leather 'ever ready case' for my M8 . . . a no-name neoprene one couldn't have been any less useful.

 

And "Little beats Italian leather. I buy all my belts from a little shop in Cortona, when I go and stay with my friends near Perugia. I am still using ones I bought 20 years ago."

 

I'm sure they're very good indeed, but there's plenty of other leather that's at least as good as Italian stuff. I've got an English Brady belt that I still wear that's older than your Perugian ones . . . and an English Parker-Hale braided rifle sling that I got secondhand back in the 70s which is still fine. At least it was when I last saw it about two years ago . . . Oh, and a Ross bino case made during the Great War that's in great shape. And to avoid accusations of Jungoism, also a French one from a Huet military 8x 30, dated 1938 also pretty much in new condition. And a West German Zeiss one from the mid-50s. And an American Bianchi No.5 pistol holster bought in 1982 which I keep for old times' sake . . . along with the sheath for my Gerber "Paul" knife. Both of those are really nice.

 

But maybe all the British and French and German and USA leather makers have given up now, who knows? It's a long time since I tried to buy anything of a similar nature.

[Daniel Leung]

The reason why I bought Leica is that no other camera can replace Leicam!!! - IMO. the reason why I bought 2 Zhou cases was that,

 

-I tried to order the Luigi case twice but never got a response from him

-the zhou case does the job and much cheaper

 

does the stitches or leather smell bother me - not really.

 

I just need a good enough half case to some what protect the Leica camera and give me a better grip when holding the camera

 

DL

[Guest]

...-I tried to order the Luigi case twice but never got a response from him...

 

...me too when trying to buy another item at his webshop. Perhaps he is not interested in still more business? But always on my trips to Rome I must visit more important things than half cases...

[bill]

There must be a reason why reports of communications with Luigi are so polarised...

 

There are those, myself included, who have bought from him more than once, with prompt, smooth communications and immediate delivery.

 

There are others who say that they can't get a peep out of him.

 

Why...?

 

Answers on a postcard, please.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[bocaburger]

Just ask yourself: when was the last time after buying a high quality item, you subsequently thought "I wish I had bought the cheaper one".

 

I've never said that. However I have, after buying many high priced items, subsequently wished I had bought the cheaper one. In my experience high price does not always equate to high or better quality.

 

I have been using my far-eastern-made half-case for a year, and it was used when I got it. It shows no signs of deterioration, furthermore it shows no more wear than the Luigi case I had with my M8. And it is leather, not synthetic. But were there a synthetic for $20 that would have been ok with me also. My purpose in using a case is to protect the camera from bangs, and things like other peoples' furniture and car paint from damage as result of contact from the camera. In other words, strictly utilitarian. That's one thing where I found the Luigi case fell short. The back was cut poorly, so it partially obstructed the uppermost control button and pressed it inadvertently. Also the snaps for the back flap were mounted with the male part on the case, and when the flap was off those metal protrusions hit me right in the cheekbone.

[Daniel Leung]

Just ask yourself: when was the last time after buying a high quality item, you subsequently thought "I wish I had bought the cheaper one". I bet however, that the reverse is true and you wish you had bought the more expensive item.

 

I bought last year, a Rolleiflex leather strap from China. It was the only one I could find with the proper slot in quick release clips on the strap. The leather is horrible and after just one year, is beginning to deteriorate. Sadly, Luigi does not do a Rolleiflex strap. I am going to either have to have the leather replaced onto the Chinese Rollei clips or do more research to find a better supplier.

 

Little beats Italian leather. I buy all my belts from a little shop in Cortona, when I go and stay with my friends near Perugia. I am still using ones I bought 20 years ago.

 

Wilson

 

China certainly makes many good or reasonabely good quality products and cheap stuff, it is all depending on how much you pay. I believe this also apply to other countries.

 

DL

[tdtaylor]

There must be a reason why reports of communications with Luigi are so polarised...

 

There are those, myself included, who have bought from him more than once, with prompt, smooth communications and immediate delivery.

 

There are others who say that they can't get a peep out of him.

 

Why...?

Bill

 

I have had several experiences of both, although in the end all have been successful and have not involved additional fees. But your right- the reports do seem rather polarized.

[billib]

This was what I was looking for in a case, maybe.

I wanted to protect the camera, somewhat. It should

look ok and be reasonably well constructed for an

inexpensive case. This seems to fit my requirements.

If it holds up for two or three years then I'll be pleased.

If it falls apart in less than a year then I'll be dissatisfied.

Only time will tell.

[philipus]

In the book "Blood and Champagne, the life and times of Robert Capa" there is not a single photo of Capa holding a camera that is NOT in a case. This includes the last photo taken of Robert Capa alive, with his Contax in leather case around his neck. There is also a photo of Capa with George Rodger taken in Naples in 1943. George Rodger's Leica and another camera are clearly seen in leather cases.

 

These guys shot hundreds of frames a day, often in less than ideal situations (i.e. under fire) and saw the advantages of using a case. Considering that with my M9 and an 8 gig card I might have to remove the case once a day doesn't seem like too major an obstacle for the added protection and grip afforded by said case.

 

Opinions...everybody's got one.

 

True, everyone's a critic

 

I just fail to see how in most cases (bar for instance those where it is so freezing cold that one can't hold a metal camera, or where it is so humid and wet that one can't get a good enough grip to operate it properly) the existence of a leather half case will have any impact at all on one's photos.

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

Well, or the beer holder, as the case may be

 

Anyway, why not get a used Leica case? Peter Loy usually has several in stock for good prices (as do many other dealers, but usually for more money). Such a case will fit well.

 

That said, I'm not sure I will get a case. I've taken care not to drop or bang my EOS equipment when using it all over the world. But that doesn't mean the bodies don't have scratches or signs of use. They do and still work flawlessly. I will have the same approach to my M3 and II bodies, once they arrive (but that's another story).

 

It's all opinions and feelings so whatever works is the rule, I guess.

 

Cheers

Philip

[tappan]

My full time job is as a newspaper photographer. For that I use BIG Canon cameras with solid, bulky gripping. Because I am accustomed to that sure grip and not accustomed to the smaller Leica M9 with, of course, no film advance lever for gripping, I purchased Luigi's half case with the small bump. I still feel the "Leica discreet" feeling and it's made of the highest quality. I also bought Tim Isaac's "Thumbs Up." Now, with both Luigi and the Thumbs Up, I have a solid hold on my M9. Both Luigi and Tim are very nice people to do business with.

Mark

[roydonian]

Camera cases are for people who wear their underwear over their trousers,

 

The 3 September issue of ‘Amateur Photographer’ magazine had a three-page feature on the photographer George Rodger (1908-1995), who served as a war correspondent for ‘Life’ magazine during the Second World War. Along with Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, and ‘Chim’ Seymour, he was a co-founder of the Magnum Photo agency,

 

One photograph in the article was taken in the North African desert during 1941. It shows him with Contax II and Leica III cameras, both in opened every-ready cases, but with no sign of underwear over his trousers.

 

Best regards,

 

Doug

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[Guest Paul Jenkin]

Interesting thread.....

 

I bought my M6TTL from a guy who advertised it "for sale" on another film-based web forum on which we both post. When he told me he'd throw in the Luigi half case for £25, I was delighted as I was wondering where I'd get a case for it.

 

I'm more of a sniper that a machine-gunner when it comes to taking photos and, therefore, I'm not forever taking the camera in and out of the case to change films. As the camera came to me in pristine condition, I want to keep it as such for as long as possible as the "black chrome" finish on Leicas isn't exactly hard wearing. I'm not "precious" about the looks but neither do I want to cause damage.

 

Would I have bought a Luigi case for the going rate on the website? No chance. For me, it's about offering a valuable tool some workable form of protection from accidental knocks and scrapes. Maybe it's just that I've worked in the insurance profession for 32 years....

 

As it happens, I had a bit of luck last weekend. I picked up an R3 Mot + a couple of lenses from a chap I know who runs a small independent camera shop. He'd taken the kit as part exchange fro a German gentleman who wanted a 7D. The chap had also "thrown in" a smart, new-looking, black, leather, Leica, ever-ready case for the camera which my friend passed on to me as part of the deal we struck.

 

When I tried the case, it didn't fit. Oh well, it cost me nothing, I thought. Then I noticed the circular hole in the back of the case. It fits my M6TTL perfectly. I offered my friend the case back as I know they are not cheap. He said he was happy for me to keep it. Will I use it? Only if I'm taking the camera out and it's not going to be in my camera bag when on the move.

 

The point is this. I would only ever buy a case for protection. I don't care what name is on it, what colour it is or what it's made from. I've been lucky to have stumbled across a couple of nice, leather cases for very little money. However, I would just as happily bought a neoprene bag to keep it in as I know how easy it is to mark and damage cameras.